Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024)

Our Youth was always bleak

I was really surprised with this drama in every aspect. It's hard to figure out what you want to expect from a j-drama, as they are pretty much giving for everything. They are good at being camp, melancholic, just haven't seen it being done at one time. The way this drama is going is to be more mellow, and I find that completely correct based on the story that is being told.

So what is the story? Honestly I had no idea. I came into this hearing it was pretty good and expected to at least not get bored, I came out of it getting a lot more. The story is a lot more depressing and realistic than I expected, it was a punch to the gut when I first understood what this drama is really about.

You go into the drama the same way as the lead Jin, thinking Hirukawa is a delinquent and no good. Multiple people in his life warn him about 'ruining' himself by surrounding himself by the wrong people. It is sort of rich coming from the people that don't care to know him well enough, and as a result you can see just how lonely Jin is. From the outside you see a rich privileged kid that wants to succeed and is obsessed with getting good grades and appealing to the right people, on the other hand you have Hirukawa. Hirukawa is the textbook definition (from the outside) of the type of person that Jin should not be around. The drama gets this across several ways, so seeing the two of them get close admits all the internal dialogue just has the payoff of their scenes together leaving me on the edge of my seat. I understand that is why it feel so intimate, because you can see just how much is at stake for the both of them.

Jin has his whole life ahead of him, but he isn't selfish because he knows that. He recognizes the disingeuine acts of others.. especially when it comes to his parents. Each episode develops his character starting from that, as well as his relationship with Hirukawa. This drama is MUCH more than a romance, it's about a whole lot more than that. It isn't too on the nose with its themes, and the acting coming from the leads pulls the story along really well. Without the chemistry between the leads this drama would suck so bad, but luckily they are offering a lot more than just their visuals.

Hirukawa is abused by his father. He is clearly able to fight back for himself, but clears up why he hasn't and won't do that. Hirukawa isn't a delinquent or a scary person, he is misunderstood by everyone. The real story of this drama starts when Jin witnesses the abuse. Even when Jin knows this, he doesn't treat Hirukawa in any different way. Hirukawa is finding himself drawn to Jin because he doesn't have to put a wall up, he knows Jin has accepted him completely. Jin accepts the abuse is happening and doesn't push any boundaries, in fact the one who is holding himself back is Jin. It is sort of brilliant that Jin is the one still closeting himself so badly, where as he has nothing 'pathetic' happening to him in that way. Jin is just extremely tentative because of his privilege circumstances, where Hirukawa finds solace in his company because of his honesty.

The romance between them adds a whole other dynamic to this drama. It isn't cliche with how it does things, instead it is much more realistic. The attraction between the two is clearly there, and you can tell Hirukawa's lax attitude of it all is because he is trying to feign ignorance of his true feelings. He has been a 'nuisance' his whole life, so he doesn't want to get in Jin's way, but he also doesn't want to leave him alone? Why? Because he knows that Jin is a person in his life that makes him genuinely happy. It is when a story is able to be as simple as that, that the attraction doesn't have to spell it out for you, that it is just two people that make each other happy. The drama comes with the circumstances that are telling them to contradict their feelings. That they won't work for just as simple reasons. That they are both boys, that they have different lives, etc.

The tone of this drama handles the serious topics so well. I was also surprised to see that the abuse in Hirukawa's life is a strong part to the story, it wasn't there for shock value. It is shown how deeply that affects Hirukawa's attitude, but it hasn't made him a bitter person, in fact he wants to protect people.

What I am dreading is the time skip.. that will 100% happen. Hopefully there are no frustrating cliches brought in.. but so far this drama is wonderful.

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[Paused] A JBL Bingo: School Edition

[Update. Due to a grave family crisis, I have put this show on hold. I'll get back to it soon. Meanwhile, feel free to let me know below how well the game predicted the plot.]

I have created, for your pleasure and displeasure, a bingo card for Japanese school BLs. I wrote these down before I started watching Miseinen (I promise!), and I’m going to see at which episode I yell “Bingo!”. Feel free to play along, shuffle the table, make it your own, and then tell me at which point you win. (For ratings, I’ll start with 5.5 throughout, and adjust them at the end depending on how good the show is.)

Column B:
(Psychology 101)

1. Overbearing mother
2. Absent or abusive father
3. Inability to communicate (except through inner monologues)
4. Panic attacks at the very thought of intimacy
5. Noble idiot

Column I:
(Tropefest)

1. Time jump, usually for trips abroad
2. Beach trips
3. Random and wildly inaccurate equations on blackboard
4. Corridor crossings in slow motion
5. Roof-tops, usually fenced-in, against a hilly background: ideal for unrequited confessions
[Bonus point: Bangs for girls. Bowlcut for boys.]

Column N:
(Love Languages)

1. A wide-eyed "kiss" that reminds you of the girl from The Ring
2. Kabedon, because... door banging is sexy?
3. Free Space
4. Wound tending... even sexier.
5. Standing in the rain, kissing in the rain, getting cold & fever from the rain... just a lot of rain.

Column G:
(Lines of dialogue)

1. “But we’re both men…”
2. “Kawaii!” or “Kakkoii!”
3. “Ikemen ne.”
4. “Hendayo!" (usually after the first non-kiss)
5. “Suki da.” “Eh?”

Column O:
(War of the Positions)

1. Seme: Nipple-revealing bleach-white shirt. Uke: Buttoned-up black coat.
2. Seme: No real friends. Uke: Really bad friends.
3. Seme: PTSD survivor. Uke: Florence Shitingayle
4. Seme: Rebel with(out) a cause. Uke: Mathlete.
5. Seme: Six feet, tops. Uke: Five feet under.


Notes:
1. Gang, it happened! At the end of Ep. 5, Bingo!!
2. "Infect me!" has to be the sexiest and most romantic thing anyone has ever said in a BL.
3. If my sampling of JBLs is correct, at least a third of all Japanese fathers must be in jail for child abuse.
4. Can someone explain to me why Minase cannot call the police?

This review is dedicated to jpny01, the final word and authority on all things BL.

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This is one to watch...

This is not going to be like my other reviews.

This review may make it seem like I didn't like this, but I first want to say that is not true. I really liked this one... but...
I have to rant about this...

That one teacher should NOT be a teacher!!! Who the hell do you think you are saying that crap to Hirukawa like that? He is your student, you shouldn't say thing like that, teachers are supposed to help their students not belittle them. I just wanted to jump in the show and beat the every loving shit out of him. Not just him either, alot of people, even the kids...what the hell is wreong with people... the sad thing is, this is not make belive it happens in real life as well, well I'm not 100% sure about the teacher thing, but the rest yes.

Another thing I thought the kissing they did could have been better. All they did was put their lips together, they did't kiss. They both did a great job otherwise.

End of rant. 😀

Edit: Ok the last ep (11) they did I better job at the kissing.

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I think you should give this one a chance

Im going to try my best to describe how beautiful the cinematography is without saying too much (to avoid spoilers). And Ill do this with one scene. This will tell you what kind of drama to expect.

Imagine a light peaking through a vent with a fan slowly rotating and casting it's rays into a dark room. The light has movement with each rotation. It's as if the light has come to life with it flickering and hitting so perfectly on their faces at the moment they needed it the most. All you see is Minase and Hirukawa because everything else is faded into shadow. It is sooo quiet and so incredibly vulnerable and beautiful.

The way the drama captures the light in these scenes is the way in which Hirukawa describes the impact Minase has on his life at sunrise. At first, everything is pitch black with no moon and stars and gradually the light peaks through to sends sparkles to the sea and then overwhelming warmth.

It's one of those rare instances where they don't need to sensationalize moments. Silence speak volumes and it is often as important as dialogue. The desire is so apparent between Minase and Hirukawa. You can feel the pull of every gaze, every unspoken word, every action or every action not taken. I think you should give this one a chance.

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this show will definitely stay with me for a long time

For me this was such a refreshing watch, as the love story that played out was carefully portrayed and it was beautiful. I really felt every single emotion that was played out on the screen; this show will definitely stay with me for a long time.

I can't remember the last time I watched a series, where I was able to understand and sympathise with both leads during times of conflict/disagreements. It was like a breath of fresh air, I particularly loved how natural the storyline and the love between the characters played out on my screen. I will genuinely miss tuning into this each week.

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